Creating your own private seed bank is easy for any home gardener to do. Below is the detailing of my methods. These are by no means highly scientific, they are instead methods that any home gardener can use. This details how I created my own private seed bank, and hopefully, you’ll decide to do the same to preserve some of your own seeds.

The method below outlines cool storage, at 4°C in a home refrigerator.

Materials
· Seeds in paper packets, properly labelled with any information you can think of
· Air tight container. Tupperware, reused yoghurt or sour cream containers work well.
· Paper towel
· 1-2 table spoons of uncooked rice OR desiccants.

Method

1. First begin by gathering your seed. Place them in the paper packets (paper will allow air circulation and prevent mould, rot, or germination), and label with the name, variety, and any notes you would like to include. I include the characteristics of the vegetable like growing days, size, etc.

2. If you don’t have desiccants ready to go (like that found in clothing you purchase), take your rice, and place it in a paper towel, taping up the edges, but leaving enough surface area unexposed to allow air flow through the paper towel. The rice will absorb excess moisture, keeping the seed at a preferred humidity level of 5-8%. You can also get silica pellets, available at many drug stores (be sure to ask your pharmacist).

3. Place the rice/desiccant at the bottom of your air tight container, and place your seeds on top.

4. Label the container so family members aren’t constantly taking it out and looking to find food.

5. Place in the fridge.

Easy and simple method for cool storage, which should keep your seed viable for around 10 years. Germination will go down to about 70% in this time frame, so be sure to save enough seed to account for this.

Special thanks to Dan & Val who’s tips and advice have helped me start up my own seed bank. Dan & Val’s blog can be found here.

For cold method seed saving, stored at -18°C, please check out the method detailed here.